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Posthumous award for donor

A chef whose organs saved the lives of at least six people will be recognised posthumously.

Daniel Daughtery, 29, died last year after an undetected tumour at the top of his spine crushed his brain stem – sending him into immediate cardiac arrest hours after finishing work at the Beach House restaurant in Shoreham.

He complained of headaches in the weeks leading up to his death and was found by his partner on September 22 semi-conscious at their home in Shoreham. He later died in hospital.

Daniel’s mum Glynis Daughtery, 60, heard this week her son will receive a posthumous award from the Order of St John after his organs helped save the lives of several people.

Glynis, from Southwick, said: “I am so proud. His heart was given to a man in his 30s, his lungs were given to a man in his 50s who had advanced lung disease and his liver was given to a man in his 50s.

“One of his kidneys was given to a young man who had chronic kidney disease.

“His other kidney was too small to be donated but it’s been used for medical research.”

Ms Daughtery, who was dealt double-heartache when her young nephew died in January, said she did not realise the full extent of organ donation when doctors asked for Daniel’s skin, bone, pancreas and other tissues.

She added: “ His skin was used to help someone who had severe burns and the bone in his left leg helped heal orthopaedic operations. His tendons have also been used to treat sport injuries and his pancreas was transplanted into a man in his 50s.

“The only thing I couldn’t let them take were his eyes. They are the windows to his soul.”

Ms Daughtery held back tears when describing her “amazing” son and admitted a “rollercoaster of emotions” since his death.

Daniel will be honoured by St John Ambulance in Crowhurst Road, Brighton, on October 29.

Tall Boys wrote:
That is so very sad - but what a gift to be prepared to give.

Sad, yes, but a happy ending......think of all the joy he brought to so many people, most of them strangers.

[quote][p][bold]Tall Boys[/bold] wrote:
That is so very sad - but what a gift to be prepared to give.[/p][/quote]Sad, yes, but a happy ending......think of all the joy he brought to so many people, most of them strangers.stevo!!